The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-08
BOBBING UP SERENELY.
A TIME-HoNoRED PREDICTION BEING
HANDSOMELY VERIFIED.
Wild and Damaging Reports Concerning
the School Funds Held by the Taxing
District-Facts and Figures, and the
Lesson They Teach.

Lesson They Teach.
Whenever it best serves a purpose TO
distort facts and figures to create desired
impressions, there are some people capa-
Die OF just that sort OF INSCRIPTIONS bust
ness Ever since the first bill against in
dicted Taxing District officials was filed in
the chancery court by the State there have
been wild and damaging rumors aiioat con-
corning the financial condition OF the city
and the conduct OF the officials For ex.
ample, one section Of the last bill asserts
that the public schools have been the
heaviest sufferers from the transfer
of funds from other accounts to that
Of streets and bridges. Distressing ro-
mances have been built upon this by the
element unfriendly to the lladden admin
istration, and for what purpose? They
know that the public schools are dear to
the heart OF every intelligent man, woman
and child in the city, and il their interests
are infringed upon and their usefulness
hampered, those guilty Of the crime will
sink under the weighto OF public displeas-
ure. But what are the facts? TaE Ar
PEAL yesterday published the receipt OF
Mr.. S. III. Dunscomb, treasurer OF the
school board, for 81, 900 OF, the full amount
of collections for school purposes, up to
November |. This receipt was dated Ne
vember 30.
Another report gained circulation yes
terday that the school board had
made demand upon the Taxing
District for 1926 49, due II on the build
ings and grounds account, but had failed
to collect, because the Taxing District bank
account had been exhausted. Following
the receipt published yesterday morning
was an explanation Of this, TO the following
effect: This balance was on hand TO the
credit OF the school board, and notice OF
the tact had been served upon il. An Off
Ger OF the board made application for the
amount on Saturday last, but owing to the
absence of acting President James Lee, jr.,
who was at Paducah, hut expected home
Monday, the collector was unsuccessful.
President II. ID. Jordan visited Mai. j. I.
| Petit, the remaining police and fire COM
Maj. Petit, being newly elected, and
learning that Capt. Lee would be at home
on Monday, concluded 10 withhold his
signature and leave the matter TO bis more
experienced associate. This course could
work no hardship on the public school in
| terest there being no demand 80 urgent
that n two-lay's delay could affect. Capt.
Lee did return Monday, and Tuesday
morning Secretary Hill, of the school
board, telephoned Treasurer Dunscomb
concerning the uncollected account Mr..
Dunscomb said he would attend 10 IL, and
thus the matter was allowed to rest. Tues
day afternoon another inquiry was made
OF the treasurer. who responded that he
had some private Affairs TO look after, but
would give his attention 10 the money
yesterday morning. lie did 50, and here
is the result OF his cali:
TAXING Drsrnicr, shelby county. Tom }
Dec. Z, lss5. !
Received OF David r. uadslcn. president board Of
firc ami police comni~s oner-, si.gs IL flr cot
cctions to December on acconnt of public schoOl
building =. N. DrNsoan. Treasurer,
S1.y5 H. w. a. \. Van Dresser.
An APPEAL reporter called on Mr..
Dunscomb and asked him II he expert
encod any trouble In collecting money due
the school board. "Nonc whatever was
his prompt reply. 81 seat up this morn
ing. and here Is the check. ] told them
they were making a big noise about
nothing"
"Does that check cover the entire
amount due the boud2''
Everything, except so on $50 cellecle>.
during the month OF November, for which
there has been no inquest"
The November collections, amounting 10
so 10, Is subject 10 the proper orlev, as
published on the authority OF the books
yesterday morning.
The reporter then visited President II. d.
Jordan, Of the school board, who detailed
some of the facts given above and furnished
the following figures showing the financial
standing of the school board toward the
Taxing District, aside from the amount re-
cciyed yesterday;
Building funds received % o.
Expended on GcoTia g. schools b.sts 10
Expended on Auction ~ school 4. IA -
Exlrnded on Pops 81 school. l0,tlG 70
Expended on Clay ST. sch0ol-..- i,lm O-sa.5is %
pcacI, ..................................saxs "a
The Sl,276 20 added TO the previous ne
ccipts OF Si0, 20a Us gives a total OF S22,-
4Si 0l. Take from this the total cxpcnd-
ilures, So, 5iS, and there remains bal
ancc 10 the credit Of the school board Of
S,rS OF. I, was further learned that tho
Taxing District has been very prompt in
turning over every cent collected on &c
count OF tile school board, and II money
has been borrowed for the schoOlsit was in
no wise the result of diatory payments
fom this quarter. This is the actual mole
hill on which the mountain Of infamous
sensation and alarm has designedly been
erected.
And there was another report current
Yesterday, the outcome OF a false publica-
| ton that there was not cent OF money on
hand by the Taxing District. This was,
that the 5000 or 5000 necessary 20 pay
of the police and fire departments for
| November was borrowed, or andvanced
by the Taxing District officials. Capt
James Iec, IT,, was Intercepted on this
point, and promptly replied: cts lie,
Mai. Petit and I have advanced money
10 continue the garbage service, but
the levy for that has been OK.
hausted. This h the only advance
made. When the fund created fot
that service was exhausted, We went 10
Judge DuBose, informed him OF The fact
and asked what must b. done. His reply
was. stop IT, Well, We didn't propose 10
do that, and took the liberty OF going
down into our pockets 10 continue II. The
few carts that are now being run are on
| that guarantee"
Asked how he accounted for the crea-
! ton and circulation OF these reports. Capt.
Ice said II was nothing but the last strug.
gle Of the element who brought about tho
original trouble, and cited case 10 sub
stantiatc his statement One OF the parties
implicated had visited business man
who furnished a great many supplies 10 the
city. and asked, with snecring insinuation,
don't you feel alarmed about your
money now, with the city government In
lis present bankrupt condition" The
contractor replied, ~ am not worried In
the least over those reports, and the city